Sunday midday February 26

Preparation

Opening response

Favor us, Lord, and deliver us.Lord, come quickly and help us.

Come, my heart says, seek God’s face.Lord, I do seek your face!

Psalm 36:5

Praise

We praise you, O God,we acclaim you as the Lord;all creation worships you,the Father everlasting.To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory.

from Te Deum Laudamus

The Word of God

Psalm 116

Refrain: The Lord is merciful and righteous.

I love the Lord because he hears my requests for mercy.I’ll call out to him as long as I live, because he listens closely to me.Death’s ropes bound me; the distress of the grave found me— I came face-to-face with trouble and grief.So I called on the Lord’s name: “Lord, please save me!”The Lord is merciful and righteous; our God is compassionate.The Lord protects simple folk; he saves me whenever I am brought down.I tell myself, You can be at peace again, because the Lord has been good to you.You, God, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, and my foot from stumbling, so I’ll walk before the Lord in the land of the living.I have remained faithful, even when I said, “I am suffering so badly!” even when I said, out of fear, “Everyone is a liar!”What can I give back to the Lord for all the good things he has done for me?I’ll lift up the cup of salvation. I’ll call on the Lord’s name.I’ll keep the promises I made to the Lord in the presence of all God’s people.The death of the Lord’s faithful is a costly loss in his eyes.Oh yes, Lord, I am definitely your servant! I am your servant and the son of your female servant— you’ve freed me from my chains.So I’ll offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to you, and I’ll call on the Lord’s name.I’ll keep the promises I made to the Lord in the presence of all God’s people, in the courtyards of the Lord’s house, which is in the center of Jerusalem.Praise the Lord!

Glory to the Father and to the Sonand to the Holy Spirit;as it was in the beginning is nowand will be forever. Amen.

Refrain: The Lord is merciful and righteous.

Psalm prayer

As we walk through the valley of the shadow of death,may we call upon your name,raise the cup of salvation,and so proclaim your death, Lord,until you come in glory.

Scripture readingRevelation 21:1-4

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind. He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples. God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more. There will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Silence may be kept.

Response

Jesus said, I am the living bread that came down from heaven.Whoever eats this bread will live forever.

John 6:51a

Prayers

Intercession and thanksgiving

Prayers may include these concerns:

The universal churchBishops, superintendents and all who lead the churchThe leaders of the nationsThe natural world and the resources of the earthAll who are in any kind of need

Prayer

Christ be with me, Christ within me,Christ behind me, Christ before me,Christ beside me, Christ to win me,Christ to comfort and restore me.Christ beneath me, Christ above me,Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,Christ in hearts of all that love me,Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.Amen.

from St Patrick’s Breastplate

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Savior taught us, so we pray

Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name,your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.Forgive us our sinsas we forgive those who sin against us.Lead us not into temptationbut deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power,and the glory are yoursnow and forever.Amen.